A to Z Index:

Countryside Access Strategy

Since 1997, the Strategy has been the Council's main delivery mechanism for countryside access. Drawing in funding from Council, national and European sources, the Strategy works in conjunction with land managers and the community to create local path networks for communities, providing access close to where people live, in accord with the Paths For All concept and the Paths to Health initiative.
Within the Council, the Strategy is managed by Planning and Environmental Services and steered by a cross-service working group. There is close co-operation with the Council's Transportation and Infrastructure Service, whose work includes Safer Routes to School, the Cycling Strategy and Modern Transport System.

Other Access Strategy work includes reconstruction of hill paths and enhancement of long-distance routes such as the Sustrans National Cycle Route 1, the Formartine and Buchan Way and the Coastal Path. The Council is also a member and funding partner of the Upper Deeside Access Trust (UDAT), which works with landowners to deliver access in the area west and south of Aboyne. Visit the Contact page if you would like to be included in future relevant Countryside Access Strategy consultations.